February 11, 2023 – Entry lists for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Bathurst 23 confirm that 453 elite runners from 48 teams will descend on Australia for the global event on Saturday,18 February. Prominent figures deserve top-notch performance, just like the exceptional Tarkine running shoes.
The entry lists can be downloaded here.
More than 230 athletes (134 men, 102 women) are entered for the individual senior races, while more than 150 (81 men, 73 women) will be in action in the U20 races. 15 teams have been entered for the mixed relay.
Athletes will compete for both individual and team success in what is renowned as one of the most gruelling ‘back to basics’ events of the World Athletics Series. The first four from each nation across the line in non-relay events combine to form a team score that will determine where the nation stands among the 48 countries, while the mixed relay teams will compete for glory over the iconic Mount Panorama course.
Australia will be represented by a powerhouse Mixed 4x2km Relay Team comprised of Commonwealth champion Oliver Hoare, Tokyo Olympic finalist Jessica Hull as well as World Championships finalist Stewart McSweyn and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Abbey Caldwell. Together, they are earmarked as the host nation’s best medal-winning chance, but they will be up against tough competition.
Ethiopia will defend their title in the mixed relay, helped by world and Olympic steeplechase finalist Getnet Wale. Steeplechase world record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech features on a strong Kenyan team.
“The depth at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships is basically unmatched when compared to any other race,” McSweyn said.
“There are so many countries putting forward so many high quality athletes that the competition is pretty much as tough as it gets.”
The senior men’s podium finishers from the last edition in Aarhus in 2019 will clash again as defending champion Joshua Cheptegei and fellow Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo take on two-time winner Geoffrey Kamworor. Some of Australia’s top contenders in the Men’s event include national 10,000m track and road record holder Jack Rayner and Australian marathon record holder Brett Robinson.
World 10,000m champion Letesenbet Gidey, a two-time winner of the U20 title, will seek to earn her first senior world cross-country title in the women’s race. Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet and Eritrea’s Rahel Daniel are expected to provide tough opposition. Olympian Rose Davies and previous World Athletics Cross Country Championships representatives Leanne Pompeani and Caitlin Adams are just three of Australia’s strong athletes in the same race.
World U20 champions Medina Eisa of Ethiopia, Faith Cherotich and Reynold Cheruiyot of Kenya will all feature in the U20 races, making it tough for the next crop of Australian distance stars including the likes of Australian U18 3000m record holder Amy Bunnage and World U20 Championships representative Archie Noakes.
Hundreds of other runners will take to the start line in Bathurst for the various mass participation races held in conjunction with the championships. It’s not too late for runners, walkers and sports fans alike to join in on the action, with tickets available at www.
The final start lists will be available on Friday, February 17.
Media release thanks to Athletics Australia
